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The Wichita Heights superstar is eager to begin his college career at Kansas, but he knows he will miss his high school teammates and coaches who helped the 6-foot-8 McDonald's All-American carve out arguably the most storied prep career in state history.

Ellis headlines The Capital-Journal’s 2012 All-State boys team — becoming the first-ever four-time All-Stater — after he and the Falcons claimed their fourth straight Class 6A state championship last Saturday night.

“I'm going to miss all my friends I played with over the years,” said Ellis, who finished his career with 2,231 points. “They're great people and they really taught me a lot and helped me out, so I'm going to miss that part.

“But I've been there four years, I've had a lot of fun, but this is my time to take the next step in life after high school, and I'm ready.”

After putting the cap on his high school career with a 29-point effort in the championship game, a 67-60 win over Blue Valley Northwest, Ellis has started to turn his attention toward getting ready to be a KU Jayhawk.

“I'm real excited and real excited to watch them in the (NCAA) Tournament, too,'' Ellis said. “My high school career's done and I get a chance to really watch them play now.

“I'm going to get a different feel for the game now and I'm really going to have to picture myself playing there. It's going to be great.”

Ellis, who is headed to Chicago to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, said he is thankful for everything he's been able to achieve in his career.

“I'm definitely blessed. Without God I wouldn't be here at all. All the glory's to him.”

It's that kind of attitude that makes his high school coach, Joe Auer, one of Ellis' biggest fans.

“He's just an amazing person on and off the court, and a real role model,” said Auer, The Capital-Journal's state coach of the year. “I'm just proud to call him one of my players.

“He's just a wonderful young man and we couldn't be any more prouder of the person that he is, the total complete person that he is.”

Ellis is one of just two seniors on this season's All-State team, with Pratt guard Micah Swank joining Ellis on the elite team after leading the Greenbacks to a 24-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the 4A state tournament.

Swank set a 4A single-game scoring record with a 41-point effort in a first-round win over Coffeyville, the Greenbacks' 24th straight victory.

Juniors Conner Frankamp of Wichita North and Semi Ojeleye of Ottawa earned All-State honors after leading their teams to state tournament appearances and averaging more than 30 points for the season. Ojeleye's Ottawa team was second in 4A.

Rounding out the All-State team is Blue Valley Northwest sophomore Clayton Custer, who led the Huskies to the 6A state championship game for the second straight year.

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